Foam-generating apparatus.



- J. B. 6L 0.. R. ER'WIN.

FOAM GENERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MARA. 1916.

1,214,661. Patent@ Feb. 6,191?.Y

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@peeileetion of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 191'?.

. application filed Merch 4t, 1516. -Serial No. 32,048.

To all whom 11' may concern;

Be it known that'ive, daraus l5. lnwm and ()RLANDO lmvrn, citizens or the lprovide the simplest and most4 eilicient -method and apparatus for utilizing the expansive force of foam to drive one or more of the liquids which form the foam from their containing receptacles into a foam generating chamber to be therein thoroughly mixed to form foam previous to its forcible ejection upon the re, substantially as fast as generated.

Uur invention is further-explained by ref? erence to the accompanying drawings, in Whichl' l Figure 1 is'a vertical sectional view of one form of our extinguisher in its normal upf right position charged ready for use. `2 shows'the device shown in Fig. 1 in its inverted discharging position, showing the commingling of the foam producing liquids and the consequent formation and ejection of the foam, and Fig. 3 is a modified form of the device shown in Figs. 1' and 2 in its inverted discharging position.

Like parts are identified by the same ref- Y erence characters throughout the several views.

1 represents a substantially closed receptacle, closed at its lower end bythe head 2, and at its upper end by the cap 3 together with the Vplate 4. ri`he cap l is preferably removably screw-threaded at 5 to the recep tacle 1 upon the collar 6 thereof in the ordinary manner, and the plate 4 is preferably removably supported upon a flange 7 provided therefor `at theV lower edge of said collar, the cap having inwardly extending projections Q5 overlying the said plate 4 for retaining the plate seated upon the said flange. .The cap 3 is preferably dome-shaped which together with the plate 4 forms a substantially closed foam generating chamber 8, the plate 4 having its upper face dished as at 26 forming the bottom of the said generating chamber. The cap 3 is further provided With a discharge spout il for foam to which a hose (not shown) may be attached to facilitate play ing the foam upon a lire.

10 is a Wheel shaped handle rigidly connected to the cap 3 with Which the extinguisher may be transported, `and upon which it is adapted to stand when inverted. An

acid receptacle 11 is preferably rigidly sup.

ported from the plate l in the aperture 12 therefor provided, and a discharge duct 13v is provided in said acid-receptacle 1l to per-` mit the acid 14 to be discharged into said foam generating chamber 8, only when said extinguisher is inverted. Avdischargeoutlet l5 is also provided in the plate el, through which the solution 16 located in the recep-r tacle l escapes into said foam generating chamber .8, when the extinguisherwis inverted. The plate 4 is further .provided w'th an open duct 17 for foam which duct` 1d is rigidly supported in an aperture 18 therefor in said plate il, and said duct eX- tends from thence approximately 'to the bottom of said receptacle 1, reference being had to Fig. 1.

To charge the device shown in Fig. 1A the cap 3 is first unscrewed and removed from the receptacle 1, when the plate or partition i is free to be removed for Washing and refilling the receptacle 1. The receptacle l is then filled nearly full with a suitable foam producing solution 16 such as an alkali, when the plate 4, together with the depending acid receptacle 11 and foam duct 17, is inserted back in place in said receptacle 1, the plate el being supported upon the annular. flange 7, as before stated. A second foam producing liquid 14 (preferably sulfuric acid) is then funneledinto the receptacle 1l through its outlet 13, until the same is nearly filled, when the cap 3 is screwed back tight in' place upon the collar 6 of the receptaclel when the extinguisher is ready for use.

To discharge the device shown in Fig. 1, thevsame has simply to be inverted as shown in Fig. 2, when' the solution 16 Iwill flow through duct 15 in plate 4 of its owngravity (at first) into the foam generatin'g chamber 8 immediately below, likewise the liquid 14 in the receptacle 11 Will simultaneously be discharged'through the outlet into said oam generating chamber 8, wherein the two foan generating liquids will be commingled and form foam by chemical reaction, a portionI of which i'oam will, by

its own eiqnansion flow up said open duct 17 and collect in the upper end of said receptacle 1 above the solution .level 2(l.l1ere of, and therein create a pressure upon said solution which combined with the gravity thereof will cause said solution 1G to he forcibly ejected into said foamv generating chamber. A thorough.commingling of the liquids 14:` and 16 is thereby eiiected' previous i to the discharge of the resultant foam which convenient manner.

is ejected through the discharge duct 9.

The device shown 1n Fig. 3 is m all respeots similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and .2, except that a duct 22 s 'provided in the .boss 23 in the receptacle 1l', screw-threaded or otherwise connected therewith fin any The lower end of said duct 22 preferably extends through and i' slightly beyond the discharge outlet 13 and said collar and havingl inwardly'extending loosely fits therein as Shown.

Foam entering the lower open end 23Mof said duct 22 passes up therethrough tothe upper end when it escapes through a plnral ity of holes 24, 24 therein to the space above the liquid in said receptacle 22, said liquid being forcibly ejected therefrom through the lower 1 discharge outlet 13 therefor in the end of said receptacle 22;

Having thus described our invention what y we claim as new and desire Vto secure by Letters Patent, is:- p

1. A foam generator comprising a recep-A tacle having a threaded collar at its open end I' and provided with an annular inwardlyea tending flange at the base of the said collar,l a perforated plate arranged Within the l`sind collar upon the said flange and having a dished upper face, a cap secured upon the projections restrainingly ovelfljying the said plate providing a generatitfigeh'amber With- :i ,aranci in the said cap and dished portion of the plate, a discharge member carried by the said cap, and a container carried by the said plate having a discharge duct within the dished upper face, a cap secured upon the said collar and having inwardly-extending projections restrainingly overlying the said plate providing a generating chamber within the said cap and dished portion of' the plate, a discharge member carried bythe l said cap, a foam conducting pipe carried by the said plate extending within the said re* ceptacle and communicating with the generating chamber, an acid container carried by the said plate having a closed .end arranged within the receptacle and an open end positioned within the said chamber, and a foam' conducting pipe carried bythe inner end of the said container communicating with the interior thereof and extending axially out- Wardly of the container outlet Within the said chamber.

3. A foam generating iire extinguisher adapted to be operated by inversion comprising a storing receptacle for a foam pro ducing solution, a perforated plate upon the said receptacle, a dome-shaped cap upon the receptacle overlying the marginal points of the said plate and providing a foam generating chamber therein, an acid carried by the said plate adapted to discharge acid into said chamber only when the device isinverted, a foam conducting expulsion means for the contents of the said acid receptacle communicating with the interior thereof adjacent its bottom and with the said generating chamber, a foam conducting eilrpelling'means for said Solution receptaclel communicating between the said chamber and spaced above the solution level when the .device is inverted.

in testimony whereof We afliiz our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES B. ERVVIN. ORLANDO R. EKWD.v

Witnesses:

' ALICE JfMc. KERIHAN, IRMA D. BRM/ina.

receptacle f 

